Firelog wrapper having enclosed air pockets and artificial firelog incorporating the same

ABSTRACT

A wrapper for an artificial firelog and an artificial firelog incorporating the same. The wrapper comprises a combustible outer layer and an inner layer having a plurality of air pockets enclosed therein. The inner and outer layers may be wrapped separately around the artificial firelog or they may be bonded together and then wrapped around the firelog. The air pockets of the inner layer may include scented material. As the wrapper burns along with the artificial firelog, the air in the air pockets of the inner layer expands and eventually the air pockets explode individually. The exploding air pockets emit a sound. If the air pockets include a scented material, the scented material is released when the air pockets explode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to wrappers for firelogs and toartificial firelogs incorporating the same. Specifically, the inventionrelates to an artificial firelog having a wrapper which includes aninner layer with enclosed air pockets which make a crackling sound whenthe firelog burns.

2. Background Information

Various types of fuel bodies have been developed, most of which areformed of particulate flammable materials compressed into apredetermined shape. The particulate materials are combined with variousbinders that maintain the desired final shape of the fuel body. Thesefuel bodies may additionally contain various types of additives toenhance burning characteristics or to produce colored flames. Certain ofthese fuel bodies, and in particular the elongated fuel body known as anartificial firelog, are formed of compressed sawdust, coal particles, orother combustible particulate materials. The particulate materials arecombined with the binder materials to form a component mixture that isusually passed through a continuous extrusion process wherein thecomponent mixture is compressed within an extrusion bore and is then cutinto predetermined lengths to form artificial firelogs. The firelogs arethen typically enclosed in a protective outer wrapper made from paper.

Artificial firelogs generate a desirable amount of heat and also createan aesthetically pleasing fire. Inasmuch as the vast majority of homesare built with furnaces or other heating appliances, artificial firelogsare desired for their aesthetic qualities to a greater extent than fortheir heat generation qualities. As such, much of the design anddevelopment efforts employed in producing firelogs are focused on thefinal aesthetic qualities of the artificial firelog. One of the mostimportant aesthetic qualities desired in an artificial firelog is thereproduction of a crackling sound such as that produced when naturalwood logs burn. In previously known artificial firelogs, the cracklingsound has typically been created in by including components such asseeds in the firelog mixture. These seeds heat upon as the firelog burnsand eventually explode, thereby creating the desired crackling sound.While the previously known firelogs crackle as they burn, there is stilla need in the art for an artificial firelog which produces an enhancedcrackling sound as it burns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device in accordance with the present invention includes a wrapper,having an inner layer and an outer layer, which is wrapped around a bodyformed from a mixture of combustible particulate matter and a bindermaterial. The inner layer of the wrapper is made from a plastic filmwhich includes a plurality of air pockets, such as the plastic film soldunder the trademark BUBBLE WRAP®. The outer layer of the wrapper is madefrom a combustible material such as paper. The inner and outer layersmay be separately wrapped around the firelog or may be bonded togetherand then wrapped around the firelog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the bestmode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, areset forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings andare particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of an artificialfirelog in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wrapper through line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a secondembodiment of an artificial firelog in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wrapper through line3-3- of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of thewrapper of the present invention showing a scented material enclosedwithin the bubbles of the inner layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an artificial firelog 10wrapped in a wrapper generally indicated at 12. Wrapper 12 comprises aninner layer 14 and an outer layer 16. Inner layer 14 preferably is madefrom what is commonly known as “bubble-wrap”, i.e., a plastic film withenclosed air pockets 18. Outer layer 16 is made from a combustiblematerial such as paper. Inner and outer layers 14, 16 are bondedtogether in any suitable manner such as by heat sealing or applying anadhesive therebetween. Inner layer 14 preferably lies in abuttingcontact with the outer surface 10 a of firelog 10. Inner layer 14 mayhowever be separated from outer surface 10 a by a layer of air to aid incombustion of firelog 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a second embodiment ofartificial firelog, generally indicated at 110, wrapped in a wrapper,generally indicated at 112. Wrapper 112 comprises an inner layer 114 andan outer layer 116. As before, inner layer 114 is made from bubble wrapand outer layer 116 is made from a combustible material such as paper.Inner layer 114 is wrapper around firelog 110 and then outer layer 116is wrapped around inner layer 114. Inner and outer layers 114, 116preferably are separated from each other over substantially the entirearea of firelog 110. Inner layer 114 may be separated from outer layer116 by a layer of air. Inner layer 114 preferably lies in abuttingcontact with outer layer 110 a of firelog 110, but may be separated fromouter layer 110 a by a layer of air.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a third embodiment of a wrapper inaccordance with the present invention and generally indicated at 212.Wrapper 212 comprises an inner layer 214 and outer layer 216. As withthe previous embodiment, outer layer 216 is made from a combustiblematerial such as paper. Inner layer 214 is formed from a plastic filmand has enclosed air pockets 218 which have a scented material 220enclosed therein. Scented material 220 may be seeds impregnated with ascent. Alternatively, scented material 220 may be scent pellets or aliquid. The scent can be pine, vanilla, lavender or any other desirablescent. Of course, the scented pellets of FIG. 5 could be added to theinner layer of the first embodiment without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, artificial firelog 10 is used in the followingmanner. (It will be understood that the other embodiments of the firelogare used in substantially the same way.) Artificial firelog 10 is placedon a grate 22 and a flame 24 is applied to outer layer 16 of wrapper 12.As wrapper 16 begins to burn, both outer layer 16 and inner layer 14heat up and burn. As inner layer 14 heats up, the air inside theindividual air pockets 18 expands and the air pockets 18 begin torupture individually (FIG. 2). As the air pockets 18 rupture, they emita sound, which to the hearer, sounds like a crackle or minor explosionof the type heard when wood logs burn. The crackling sounds of theindividually rupturing air pockets 18 may be augmented by includingseeds within the combustible materials of artificial firelog 10. In theembodiments of the invention which include scented materials 220 and320, as air pockets 218 and 318 heat up, and scented materials 220 and320 respectively, heat up. When air pockets 318 and 318 rupture, theynot only emit a sound, but they also release the scented materials 220and 320. The firelog therefore has both an enhanced crackling sound anda pleasant scent.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A wrapper for an artificial firelog comprising: an outer layer; andan inner layer having a plurality of enclosed air pockets therein. 2.The wrapper as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is adaptedto abut the artificial firelog.
 3. The wrapper as set forth in claim 2,wherein the inner layer is comprised of a plastic film having aplurality of enclosed air pockets formed therein.
 4. The wrapper as setforth in claim 3, wherein the outer layer is comprised of a combustiblematerial.
 5. The wrapper as set forth in claim 2, further comprising ascented material enclosed within a plurality of the air pockets.
 6. Thewrapper as set forth in claim 5, wherein the scented material comprisesseeds impregnated with a scented liquid.
 7. The wrapper as set forth inclaim 6, wherein the scented material comprises scented pellets.
 8. Thewrapper as set forth in claim 6, wherein the scented material is aliquid.
 9. The wrapper as set forth in claim 6, wherein the scentedmaterial has a scent selected from the group consisting of pine, vanillaand lavender.
 10. The wrapper as set forth in claim 2, wherein the innerand outer layer and bonded together.
 11. The wrapper as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the inner layer and outer layer are wrapped separatelyaround the artificial firelog.
 12. An artificial firelog comprising: abody formed from a combustible particulate matter; a binder material; awrapper having: an outer layer; and an inner layer having a plurality ofenclosed air pockets therein.
 13. The artificial firelog as set forth inclaim 12, wherein the inner layer abuts an outer surface of the body.14. The artificial firelog as set forth in claim 12, wherein the innerlayer is comprised of a plastic film having a plurality of enclosed airpockets formed therein.
 15. The artificial firelog as set forth in claim13, wherein the outer layer is comprised of a combustible material. 16.The artificial firelog as set forth in claim 12, further comprising ascented material enclosed within a plurality of the air pockets.
 17. Theartificial firelog as set forth in claim 15, wherein the scentedmaterial comprises seeds impregnated with a scented liquid.
 18. Theartificial firelog as set forth in claim 16, wherein the scentedmaterial comprises scented pellets.
 19. The artificial firelog as setforth in claim 16, wherein the scented material is a liquid.
 20. Theartificial firelog as set forth in claim 16, wherein the scentedmaterial has a scent selected from the group consisting of pine, vanillaand lavender.
 21. The artificial firelog as set forth in claim 12,wherein the inner and outer layer and bonded together.
 22. Theartificial firelog as set forth in claim 12, wherein the inner layer andouter layer are wrapped separately around the artificial firelog. 23.The artificial firelog as set forth in claim 12, wherein the combustiblematerial further comprises a plurality of seeds therein.